The province has announced it is spending $5.5 million in the Women’s Economic Security Program to expand training opportunities for low-income women to help them find a job or start a business.
The funding will be rolled out over several years with $496,000 being spent in 2024.
“The Women’s Economic Security Program is empowering women with the skills they need to join the workforce and help build Ontario together,” said Charmaine Williams, associate minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity. “We know that supporting more women in the workforce benefits Ontario’s economy, especially in in-demand sectors such as the skilled trades.”
Through the Women’s Economic Security Program, training is offered in four streams:
- skilled trades;
- entrepreneurship;
- information technology, and;
- general employment.
Because the program is geared to low-income learners, many of whom will be single parents, the program also offers additional supports to participants to remove barriers to participating. Supports include providing meals throughout the training day, transportation to and from training, and support in finding child care.
As well, participants at at risk of intimate partner violence can also access other, wraparound supports, including referrals to mental health and well-being supports, counselling, housing, and legal support.
Visit Ontario.ca/women to learn more. The applications period is now open with a deadline to apply of Jan. 26, 2024. Information about the program and the application process is available at Ontario.ca/getfunding.
The province said since its launch in 2018, the Women’s Economic Security Program has helped more than 2,100 women find jobs, become entrepreneurs or pursue further training and/or education. This includes helping 1,298 women start small businesses and 237 get jobs in the skilled trades.
